Romans 10:9
About this versePaul says that whoever openly declares Jesus as Lord and truly believes God raised him from the dead will be saved.
Matthew 5:16
Jesus calls his followers to live so visibly well that others see their good deeds and give glory to God the Father.
In the same way, your light must shine where people can see it, so that they will see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.
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Say the verse aloud, filling in each blank. Tap a blank for a hint.
What Matthew 5:16 means
This comes in the Sermon on the Mount, just after Jesus calls his followers the light of the world. The instruction is not to become light but to stop hiding it.
The purpose clause is what keeps it from vanity: so that they may glorify your Father. Visible goodness is meant to point past the person doing it. Memorised, it is a useful check on both extremes — hiding faith entirely, or performing it for credit.
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Questions about Matthew 5:16
What does Matthew 5:16 mean?
It means living so that the good you do is visible to others, not for your own reputation but so that they give glory to God.
Does Matthew 5:16 conflict with doing good in secret?
No. Matthew 6 warns against doing good *to be seen*. The difference is motive: here the aim is that God is glorified, not that you are admired.